Buy a Landscaping Company in Long Beach, CA

The Long Beach Landscaping Market

Long Beach sits in one of the most recession-resistant landscaping markets in the country. The climate demands year-round maintenance. There is no off-season.

The city's 458,000-plus residents, median household income of nearly $84,000, and high concentration of commercial properties, HOA communities, and municipal contracts create a durable demand base. Landscaping here is a recurring service business, not a discretionary one.

Nationally, landscaping company listings range from $38,950 to $9,000,000 depending on revenue scale, contract mix, and equipment ownership. The 198 active listings in the current market reflect steady deal flow. Most quality operators in Southern California trade between $400K and $1.5M.

How Much Does a Landscaping Company Cost in Long Beach?

Here is what the deal math looks like on a median acquisition:

These are rough estimates based on market data. Actual terms depend on individual qualification and lender.

The equity injection here is $50,000 total: $25,000 in buyer cash plus a $25,000 seller note on full standby acting as equity. Full standby means no payments on that note during the SBA loan term. Regalis Capital achieves this structure on over 90% of its deals.

What Should You Look For When Buying a Landscaping Company?

The biggest risk in any landscaping acquisition is revenue that walks out the door when the owner does.

A landscaping book that is 80% recurring maintenance contracts is a very different asset from one that is 80% one-off installs. Recurring contracts are predictable, transferable, and defensible in underwriting. Installation revenue is seasonal and relationship-dependent. Know the mix before you make an offer.

For a Long Beach acquisition, look specifically at:

• HOA and commercial contract duration. Multi-year contracts with written agreements are the gold standard. Month-to-month residential accounts are sellable but need a haircut.
• Crew stability. In the Los Angeles County labor market, experienced crew is difficult to replace. A company with low turnover and a bilingual crew lead is worth more than the numbers alone suggest.
• Equipment condition and ownership. Owned equipment with recent maintenance logs is clean. Leased equipment that expires at close is a liability.
• License status. California requires a C-27 Landscaping Contractor license for work over $500. Confirm the license is current and transferable or that the seller will stay on through a transition period.

SBA Financing for a Long Beach Landscaping Acquisition

SBA 7(a) is the primary financing vehicle for acquisitions in this price range. At $500K, the structure is straightforward: 80% SBA loan, 15% seller note on full standby, 5% buyer cash.

Current SBA rates are approximately 10% to 11% (WSJ Prime plus 1.5% to 2.75%). On a 10-year term, the annual debt service on a $400K loan comes to roughly $62,000 to $65,000. With $182,000 in annual cash flow, a buyer is looking at a 2.8x DSCR before any add-backs. That is a clean deal.

California-based SBA lenders are familiar with the landscaping sector. Equipment-heavy businesses with real asset value tend to underwrite well. The real underwriting question will be contract transferability and owner dependency, not the collateral.

One thing to flag for California specifically: employment law compliance is non-negotiable in this state. A landscaping company with misclassified workers (1099s doing recurring work) carries contingent liability that will surface in due diligence. Confirm payroll practices before close.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to buy a landscaping company in Long Beach?

As of Q1 2026, the median asking price nationally is $500,000 with median cash flow of $182,712. Operators in Southern California often carry a modest premium due to year-round demand, so expect $450K to $700K for a well-documented, contract-heavy business in the Long Beach market.

Can I use SBA financing to buy a landscaping company in California?

Yes. SBA 7(a) loans are widely used for landscaping acquisitions in California. The standard structure is 80% SBA loan, 15% seller note on full standby, and 5% buyer cash. You will need to demonstrate that the business cash flows at a 1.5x DSCR minimum, with 2x being the target.

What is a reasonable EBITDA multiple for a Long Beach landscaping company?

Most SBA-eligible landscaping businesses trade between 2.5x and 3.5x annual cash flow. The national median is 2.7x as of Q1 2026. Businesses with long-term commercial contracts, low customer concentration, and owned equipment typically trade at the higher end of that range.

What licenses are required to own a landscaping company in California?

A C-27 Landscaping Contractor license is required for projects over $500. Confirm the license is active and work with an attorney to understand the transfer process. Some buyers hire the prior owner as a consultant during the transition to maintain the license while the new owner qualifies.

How long does it take to close a landscaping company acquisition with SBA financing?

A typical SBA acquisition takes 60 to 90 days from signed letter of intent to close. Landscaping deals can move faster when the seller has clean financials and transferable contracts. Delays usually come from environmental checks on chemical storage or equipment appraisal backlogs.

Talk to Regalis Capital About Buying a Landscaping Company in Long Beach

Regalis Capital's deal team reviews 120 to 150 acquisitions per week across industries including landscaping. If you are evaluating a Long Beach operator or looking for off-market deal flow in Southern California, we can run the numbers with you.

We handle sourcing, due diligence, SBA structuring, and negotiation. Our average deal closes with 5% buyer cash in at closing.

Start with a free deal assessment at regaliscapital.com.